NYSE: Stock Markets’ ‘Showrooms’ Growing Emptier

Investors shopping for stock deals are doing more of their business directly through platforms run by banks and brokers, leaving the showrooms of the securities industry — exchanges — with quieter aisles, New York Stock Exchange executives said Tuesday.

Trading activity on private, U.S. stock markets run by big financial firms hit record levels in January, according to figures tabulated by the NYSE. On Jan. 23, 38% of all Big Board-listed stocks were traded internally by banks and on electronic “dark pool” markets, while trading in shares listed on the NYSE’s junior Amex market reached a record 39% on Jan. 28 and the level for Nasdaq-listed securities topped 41%.